Post on 14-Dec-2015
www.ethics.qld.gov.au
ObjectivesBy the end of the workshop SES Officers will have:
1. Demonstrated an understanding of the Integrity and Accountability regime in Queensland
2. Applied the ethics principles to ethical dilemmas
3. Developed a conceptual framework for their leadership of ethical practice and culture in their agencies
4. Committed to action as champions of ethical practice and culture within their agencies and across government
www.ethics.qld.gov.au
Integrity and Accountability reforms a call to action
Four key principles underpinning a robust integrity and accountability framework
• strong rules• strong culture• strong scrutiny• strong enforcement
www.ethics.qld.gov.au
Government focus on ethics Summary of Reforms
Strong Rules
Including:
• One Code of Conduct for the Queensland Public Service
• Gifts and Benefits policy
• Regulating the lobbyist industry
www.ethics.qld.gov.au
Government focus on ethics Summary of Reforms
Strong Culture
Including:
• Ethical leadership
• Mandatory ethics training
• Queensland Public Sector Ethics Network
www.ethics.qld.gov.au
Government focus on ethics Summary of Reforms
Strong Scrutiny
Including:
• Integrity Commissioner role expanded
• Requirement to publish departmental gifts registers
• Reform of State Procurement Policy
www.ethics.qld.gov.au
Government focus on ethics Summary of Reforms
Strong Enforcement
Including:
• Crime and Misconduct Commission
• Public Service Commission
• Effective Public Interest Disclosure regime
www.ethics.qld.gov.au
Integrity Regime
Your AgencyInternal ethics activities
and advice
Crime and Misconduct Commission•Crime and Misconduct Act•Combat major crime•Raising public sector integrity•Protecting witnesses
Public Service Commission•Public Service Act•Public Sector Ethics Act•Public Interest Disclosure Act•Ethics advice, policy and training
IntegrityCommissioner•Integrity Act•Integrity advice to Ministers/ CEO/ SES•Lobbyist Register
Queensland Audit Office•Auditor-General Act•Independent assessment of financial management•Help agencies improving financial management
Ombudsman•Ombudsman Act•Independent complaints investigation•Help agencies improving administrative and decision making practice
Information Commissioner•Right to Information Act•Information Privacy Act
www.ethics.qld.gov.au
Public Sector Ethics Act
Ethics Principles
• Integrity and impartiality
• Promoting the public good
• Commitment to the system of government
• Accountability and transparency
www.ethics.qld.gov.au
Integrity and impartiality
Truthfulness
Fairness
Honesty
Not prejudiced
Unbiased
Just
www.ethics.qld.gov.au
Promoting the public good
actions that benefit
the
people of Queensland as a whole
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Commitment to the system of government
the government (elected by the people)
and the
laws and institutions (public service and courts)
www.ethics.qld.gov.au
Accountability and transparency
to act responsibly so our actions and decisions can be explained
being open and candid so our actions and decisions can be easily understood
www.ethics.qld.gov.au
Ethical failureHurricane Katrina New Orleans
• Failure to act in the public good
• Perception of lack of integrity and impartiality -lack of respect for the people
Human impact: significant additional distress to survivors and loss of life
www.ethics.qld.gov.au
Ethical failureReconstruction of Iraq
• Failure to act in the public good
• Lack of integrity and impartiality
• Lack of transparency and accountability
Human impact: loss of security, services and human life
www.ethics.qld.gov.au
Ethical failure
The AWB, DFAT and the Oil for Food Program
• Failure to act with integrity and impartiality
• Failure to act with accountability and transparency
• Failure to uphold laws
Impact: breach of UN sanctions, undermining of public confidence
www.ethics.qld.gov.au
Reform accountabilities for SES
• Gifts and benefits
• Declaration of interests
• Lobbyist register
• Employment separation procedures
• Interaction with ministerial staff
• Ethics advisory service
• Public Interest Disclosures
• Discipline processes
www.ethics.qld.gov.au
Reform accountabilities for SES
Reforms to the State Procurement Policy
from 1 July 2011, publication of:
• details of awarded contracts over $10,000
• contracts over $10 million
Independent oversight of procurement
Legislation to allow issuing of apologies
www.ethics.qld.gov.au
Reform accountabilities for SES Code of Conduct
for the Queensland Public Service
positive expression of the values that underpin effective public service
Principles - 4 ethics principlesValues - strengthening the principlesStandards of conduct – help us put the Code into practice
www.ethics.qld.gov.au
Reform accountabilities for SES Ethics training
Legislative commitment for
annual mandatory ethics training
• Workshop for CEOs conducted
• Training continued here and for all SES
• Support training in ethics and ethical decision-making for all staff
www.ethics.qld.gov.au
‘The public sector is held to an ethical standard not demanded of others.
It must recognise the distinctive nature of its contribution to the public good
and meet a demanding accountability regime.’
(Shergold)
www.ethics.qld.gov.au
Ethical decision-making
‘..possibly the most important act of courage for a public servant is to decide.’
‘Public administrators must be able to face the ambiguity and the paradoxical nature of ethics without being immobilised by them.’
(Lynch and Lynch, 2009)
www.ethics.qld.gov.au
Ethics advice
Your peers
Your agency ethics, human resources area, or legal area
• PSC Ethics Advisory Service1300 038 472 www.ethics.qld.gov.au
• Crime and Misconduct Commission: 3360 6060 www.cmc.qld.gov.au
www.ethics.qld.gov.au
Leadership‘A robust integrity system requires a public sector that emphasises strong leadership … and a conscious dedication to ethical values … Leaders must communicate the importance of ethical decision-making in the workplace and they must promote ethical behaviours in their day-to-day activities and decisions.’
(Government response to Integrity and Accountability in Queensland, 2009)
‘Ethics must be part of mission and business strategy … not just a matter of appointing an ethics officer or ethics committee.’
(Transparency International Australia)
www.ethics.qld.gov.au
Discussion questions
• How do you embed ethics into your organisations?
• What are the challenges?
• What approach will you take to develop an integrated response to the integrity and accountability reforms?
www.ethics.qld.gov.au
Discussion question
‘..a healthy organisational culture actively promotes congruence between the values of the organisations and the individuals working in it.’
(Casali and Day, 2010)
What are the values of your organisation and how do you ensure they are reflected in strategy and culture?
www.ethics.qld.gov.au
Performance Commitment
Research shows - ethical conduct in public administration increases employee morale
Leaders must • communicate the importance of ethical
decision-making, and • promote ethical behaviour in their day-to-
day activities and decisions